Category: Planned Giving

Planned giving is more than a financial strategy—it’s a cornerstone of long-term sustainability for nonprofits. Over $84 trillion is expected to transfer between generations by 2045, with $12 trillion earmarked for charitable causes. Yet, only 5.3% of U.S. households currently include a charitable gift in their estate plan, leaving an enormous opportunity for nonprofits to secure transformational gifts that can support their mission for decades.

The Kansas City Chiefs are going for their third straight Super Bowl title this weekend. Many bemoan their success! While they may not like the Chiefs, there is one undeniable thing about them: their success.

Planned Giving is a fundraising method that offers a higher return on investment than other types of fundraising. This is typically because planned gifts (such as bequests or beneficiary designations) are often large, but cost relatively little to secure. You can start as simple as a page about planned giving on your website and start promoting this impactful way to give.

For retirees with a healthy nest egg in tax-deferred accounts, hitting age 73 comes with a new milestone: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). While it’s a sign of financial success, those RMDs can come with a not-so-fun side effect—higher taxes! The bigger your account balance, the larger your RMD, which could nudge you into a higher tax bracket.

Some donors, especially those required to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), begin planning their financial and tax strategies at the start of the year. Punctual CPAs send their clients information about their RMDs for the calendar year in January or February. By communicating early, nonprofits position themselves as part of these plans before funds are allocated elsewhere.

Over my 25 years in philanthropy, a career which I am proud of and thankful for, I have worked with organizations where I was a development staff of one to a large healthcare system where we had fundraisers throughout the United States.

The donors that give to you automatically every month show how much they trust you with every transaction. Your shared mission is so important to them that they give you their credit card number and allow you to charge money every month on it. That level of trust cannot be underestimated.

For nonprofits, the challenge of sustaining operations and funding mission-critical initiatives is ever-present. Many organizations focus heavily on annual giving campaigns or a handful of fundraising events, leaving a critical opportunity untapped: a dedicated planned giving strategy. Integrating estate planning into your fundraising plan can unlock a steady stream of future contributions, ensuring long-term financial stability and deepening donor relationships.

Nonprofits face an ongoing challenge in maintaining consistent funding to support their missions. Annual giving, while essential, often fluctuates due to economic conditions, donor preferences, and unforeseen events. These ebbs and flows can create operational disruption and jeopardize long-term plans. To counteract this instability, nonprofits increasingly recognize the importance of planned giving programs—a sustainable approach to securing future funding. However, implementing such programs can be daunting without the right tools and expertise.

Your database is the lifeblood of your organization! Inside your database is the key information you can use to target those most likely to leave you in their estate plans helping you fulfill your mission.